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Hyperbaric Medicine

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a medical treatment in which you breathe 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber. The amount of oxygen in your blood is increased several times the normal level when you breathe pure oxygen under high barometric pressure. This increase in oxygen to all parts of your body helps improve healing and control infection in certain medical conditions.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be used to treat conditions such as:

Diabetic wounds

Tissue damage from radiation

Failed skin grafts or flaps

Complex skin infections

Chronic bone infections

Crush injuries from trauma

Preparing for Treatment

Prior to your treatment, you may eat (being mindful to avoid gaseous foods) and take medicines as you normally do. Diabetic patients can ensure their glucose levels remain therapeutic during treatment by meeting requirements of blood sugar levels by having a meal just prior to appointment time.

Cotton clothing is provided for you and must be worn in the chamber. A changing area and lockers are available; however, please do not bring valuable items to your treatment. To ensure optimal outcomes you should refrain from nicotine, caffeine and alcohol consumption throughout your episode of care.

The following items should not be worn or taken into the chamber:

Deodorant

Contact lenses

Lipstick or chapstick

Contact lenses

Make-up

Jewelry

Hair oil

Ointments

Watches

Hair spray or hair gel

Salve

Hearing aids

Salve

Nail polish

Wigs or hair pieces

Dentures

Cologne or perfume

After shave

Books

Toys

What to Expect

When your treatment begins, you will feel fullness in your ears, common to flying in an airplane or diving underwater. That’s why sometimes treatments are referred to as a “dive.” Our staff will show you how to relieve this fullness and equalize the pressure to avoid further discomfort. Once you’re at pressure, this sensation resolves.

You will lie down in the chamber for the duration of the treatment, and the clear acrylic chamber allows you to see out. You can sleep or watch television or a DVD. An intercom system allows you to talk with the health care providers in attendance at any time.

The length of your treatment is generally 2 to 2 and a half hours depending on your diagnosis. You may feel tired after a treatment, but this is a normal reaction.

Possible side effects may include:

Confinement anxiety - This will be addressed with the clinician, as needed.

Oxygen toxicity - We may order 10-minute air breaks every 30 minutes, as appropriate.

Barotrauma of the inner ear - We may refer to an ENT if you experience difficulty with ear discomfort.

Most patients will have an average of 30 treatments. You will have periodic evaluations by our hyperbaric team throughout the course of treatment. We will monitor and work to adjust your therapy as needed, but patients are expected to notify the staff of any changes in general health throughout your treatment of course.